Folding steel square.



No. 844,420, PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907. R. M. SMITH.

FOLDING STEEL SQUARE.

APPLICATION FILED $217110, 1906.

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firm M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOL-DING STEEL SQUARE.

T0 at] whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1-, ROBERT M. SMITH, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingSteel Squares, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of carpenters steel square, the two plates of which are so arranged as to be folded one upon the other when not in use and which are provided with means for holding them in rigid operative position.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description, and accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved carpenters steel square. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the hinged portion of the device. Fig. 3 is a section on the line a; m of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the stock, and 2 the tongue, of my improved square, the said two parts being jointed together at their mitered abutting edges 3 by means of two spaced-apart hinges 4, provided with knuckles 5, through which the pintle 6 extends. One member of each hingeis welded or otherwise integrally formed with one of the plates or members 1 and 2, or they may be riveted to said members, if desired, and the two hinges 4 are spaced from each other, as shown, the pintle 6 extending from one hinge to the other and serving for both hinges.

7 designates a locking member which is in the form of a plate fitted to slide snugly between the two hinges and provided with a longitudinal slot 8, in which a pin 9 is accommodated, the said pin being secured to or formed integrally with one of the members 1 or 2 of the square. The plate 7 is formed at one end with a longitudinal recess, producing a bifurcation 10, designed to receive another pin 11 on the other member of the square. For convenience in sliding the plate the same may be provided with a returned edge 12 at one end, as shown. When it is desired to Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 10,1906. Serial No. 333.995.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

hold the two members-that is, the tongue and stockin rigid extended relation with respect to each other, the locking-plate 7 is moved so as to slide underneath the pintle 6 and into engagement with the stud or pin 1 1,

in which position, it is manifest, the two parts of the square will be held extended and rigid one with. the other at the hinge, and whenever it is desired to fold the tongue upon the stock it is only necessary to slide the plate 7 backwardly out of engagement with the p n 11 until its bifurcated end frees the edge of the tongue 2, whereupon the tongue may obviously be folded upon the stock.

Preferably the locking-plate 7 is of such thickness that it will frictionally engage the pintle 6, and thereby hold the locking-plate in closed position independent of other securing means for this purpose.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and eflicient form of folding carpenters square which may be easily and cheaply made and efficiently manufactured to hold the tongue extended with respect to the stock or folded upon the latter, so that the device may be conveniently carried in the tool-chest or kit.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A device of the character described, comprising a tongue and stock having mitered adjoining edges, two spaced apart hinges connecting said parts together at said edges, said hinges embodying a pintle common to both hinges and extending across the space between said hinges, and a lockingplate having a sliding movement on one of said parts and .designed to be slid into engagement with the other part, and arranged for frictional engagement with said pintle for the purpose specified.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a tongue and stock having mitered adjoining edges, two spaced-apart hinges connecting said parts together at said edges and embodying a pintle common to both hinges and extending across the space between the latter, a stud connected to one of said parts, a stud connected to the other of said parts, the two studs being in registry with the space between the hinges, and a locking-plate provided with a slot receiving one of said studs and designed to be slid across the space between the hinges into engagement with theoth'er' stud, the arrange ment of the pintle and plate being such asto produce a frictional engagement between the two, for the purpose specified. l 3. A carpenters square comprising i tongue and stock having Initered adjoining edges, 3 two hinges pivotally securingsaid tongue and stock together at said edges and spaced from each other, the tongue and stock I each being rovided with a stud and said Studs being coated in line with the SpaG be- I tween s'ai'd hinges, and a locking-plate fitted to slide snugly between said hinges and provided with asl-ot accommodating one stud and also provided with: a bifurcated end I 5 adapted to'enga'g'e the other stud.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature presence of two Witnesses.

g ROBERT M. SMITH. Witnesses:

OHAs. E. GILBERT, JNo. J. BRAEUTIGAM. 

